Partitioning Wall Consisting of Transparent Wall Elements

ABSTRACT

A partitioning wall with several wall elements which are movably accommodated via a guiding assembly. The wall elements have two transparent pane elements which are disposed parallel to and spaced apart from each other, and wherein the wall elements have a profile frame for accommodating the pane elements and furthermore for accommodating a sound insulation device therein in order to sound-proof the wall element at least at a floor and at a ceiling.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This is a U.S. national stage of Application No. PCT/EP2009/003854, filed on May 29, 2009, which claims priority to German Application No: 10 2008 027 821.1, filed: Jun. 11, 2008, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a partitioning wall comprising several wall elements movably accommodated via a guiding assembly. The lateral plane surfaces of the wall elements are formed by transparent pane elements to create a translucent mobile partitioning wall comprising of several wall elements.

2. Related Art

Such wall elements for forming a mobile partitioning wall with transparent pane elements find their application in spaces such as shop premises as a mobile fenestrated facade, in businesses for variably creating customer areas, in public buildings, and in particular in banks, where, after business hours, an interior space of the customer area is separated from an exterior space. The transparent pane elements have fittings to which guiding assemblies are mounted in order to accommodate the wall elements for example in a ceiling rail system and to guide them therein. The pane elements are very often individually disposed and form the actual body of the wall element. In this case, the fittings are disposed at the top side and the bottom side of the pane element such that, in the event several wall elements are disposed next to each other for forming the partitioning wall, the pane elements made from glass directly adjoin each other.

Such partitioning walls with several glass elements, which are configured with transparent pane elements, have the disadvantage of lacking sound insulation, because, on the one hand, the pane elements are only single-walled and not double-walled and, on the other hand, the border area of the pane elements has no sound proofing. In fact, wall elements are known for forming partitioning walls which have sound insulation devices, such devices are however not known for wall elements consisting of transparent pane elements. Incorporating a sound insulation device into the fittings which enclose the pane elements at least at the top side and at the bottom side, already poses a problem.

Furthermore, partitioning walls with several wall elements are known, wherein the wall elements have a frame structure in which boards are inserted which are cut to size and consist of MDF-boards, solid wood boards or of plastic material boards. Such wall elements have sound insulation devices in order to provide a sound-proof mobile partitioning wall. Furthermore, wall elements with windows are known which, in the shape of a cut-out, are incorporated into the lateral boards. The window opening within the lateral boards does not interfere with incorporating the sound insulation device, which usually takes up a considerable structural space and is based on a spindle system by which the sealing elements are moved against both the floor and the ceiling of the room.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a partitioning wall with several wall elements which includes an enhanced range of functions.

The inventive partitioning wall according to one embodiment has several wall elements movably accommodated via a guiding assembly. The wall elements have two transparent pane elements disposed parallel to and spaced apart from each other. The wall elements have a profile frame for accommodating the pane elements and furthermore for accommodating a sound insulation device therein, to sound-proof the wall elements at least at a floor and at a ceiling.

The inventive partitioning wall combines the characteristics of a transparent partitioning wall with the advantages of sound insulation. It is the inventive reception of the pane elements in a profile frame, which constitutes the prerequisite for incorporating a sound insulation device into the wall elements. On the one hand, the sound insulation is provided by proofing the wall elements in a sound-insulating manner at the floor and at the ceiling of the room. On the other hand, the plane-parallel disposition of two transparent pane elements spaced apart from each other contributes to the sound insulation. This is only possible by the profile frame, which, in combination with the transparent pane elements, forms the wall element. The given distance of the two transparent pane elements with regard to each other increases the effect of the sound insulation, wherein a wider distance between the pane elements results in better sound insulation values.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the lateral surfaces of the wall element are mainly formed by the pane elements, wherein the profile frame only surrounds the borders of the pane elements and encloses them. Thereby a distinct differentiation of the inventive wall element from known wall elements is provided, which have enclosed non-transparent boards as the lateral surfaces and have a window opening. Such conventional wall elements have lateral surfaces which are mainly formed by non-transparent lateral boards. In this case however, the inventive wall element has just a profile frame which is so narrow that it only shows in the border area and encloses the pane elements in the profile frame. The ratio between the lateral surface, which is formed by the profile frame, compared to the lateral surface, which is formed by the pane element, can be compared to the one of a window leaf of a building. A window frame of a window leaf encloses the window pane only at the border such that the window frame represents a negligible portion of the lateral surface of the window.

The pane elements of the inventive wall element may consist of all known transparent materials, which can be utilized as such pane elements. Consequently, the pane elements can be manufactured from plastic material, which has transparent features, such as given for example with acrylic glass (PMMA). However, the pane elements are preferably made from glass panes, wherein at least one of the two pane elements may be a single-glazed pane or also a double-glazed pane. In addition to improved sound insulation also thermal insulation is made possible by utilizing double-glazed panes, as long as the inventive partitioning wall needs to fulfil the function of thermal insulation. Furthermore, in this case the profile frame may have a thermal barrier in that it includes for example both an interior and an exterior aluminium profile, which on the inside, are held together via plastic webs. A barrier against heat flow from a warm side to a cold side is thereby created, which sides are separated by the partitioning wall. It may be sufficient in this case to execute at least one of the two pane elements as a double-glazed pane, wherein the second glass pane may be a single-glazed pane.

It is furthermore possible to configure the glass panes as single-glazed panes and to either combine them with a pane of identical or of different thickness. It is advantageous for example to combine glass pane thicknesses of 6 mm and 6 mm, wherein also a combination of 8mm and 10 mm is possible which allows for an improved sound insulation. Combining different glass pane thicknesses results in reduced resonance effects, whereby again the sound insulation can be further increased.

The wider the distance of the pane elements with regard to each other, the better the sound insulation effect. However, the wall element should not exceed a given width dimension, it is therefore advantageous to dispose the pane elements in the wall element if possible on the outside. Therefore, the profile frame should not protrude significantly beyond the exterior surfaces of the pane elements. Advantageously the distance of the two glass panes accommodated in the profile frame has a value of at least 50 mm, preferably a value of at least 60 mm and particularly preferred a value of at least 80 mm, wherein the wall element altogether does not exceed a thickness of 100 mm.

In one embodiment, the profile frame has vertically extending lateral frame parts which are combined according to a tongue-and-groove connection such that several wall elements can be disposed next to each other and form a positive engagement. Consequently, a wall element has a first, vertically extending lateral frame part on a first side, which part comprises a groove, wherein the opposite second, vertically extending frame part on the second side has a tongue geometry. Again sealing elements for improving the sound insulation may be provided in the tongue-and-groove joining geometry. On the upper side, the profile frame consists of a horizontally extending head beam and on the floor side, of a horizontally extending lower beam. As a result, a mostly rectangular profile frame is formed wherein the vertically extending lateral frame parts are connected to the respective head and lower beams. The connection may be done by angle sections, wherein those may be made from a tougher material, for example from a steel material, because the weight of the pane elements is carried via the angle sections, since the wall elements are mostly accommodated with a guiding assembly, which is mounted to the ceiling of the room. Such wall elements may include heights of more than four metres such that two thicker glass panes inserted into a profile frame total up to a considerable weight which is initially absorbed by the lower beam and, via the angle sections, is introduced into the vertically extending lateral frame parts.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the partitioning wall has a sound insulation device disposed in the head beam and/or in the lower beam. The sound insulation device has sealing elements which respectively are movable out of the head beam against the ceiling and out of the lower beam against the floor. The sealing elements have to be displaceably disposed in the head and lower beams, because the sealing elements are only displaced towards the ceiling and the floor once the wall element has reached its terminal position in the partitioning wall. Consequently, the wall element can be moved within the guiding assembly without the sealing elements sealing at the ceiling and at the floor.

For displacing the sealing elements it is intended, according to the invention that, in one wall element, a first drive unit is provided in the head beam and a second drive unit in the lower beam, which units, independently from each other, displace a respective sealing element both against the ceiling and against the floor. Unlike conventional wall elements, in which a single drive unit displaces both a first sealing element against the ceiling and a second sealing element against the floor, in the inventive wall element, the sealing elements have separate drive units for sealing at the ceiling and at the floor. For creating the inventive embodiment of the wall element with a profile frame in which the drive units are incorporated at the top and at the bottom, the drive units need to be adapted to the available structural space within the head beam and the lower beam. An alternatively embodied drive unit may include a spindle system, which has only one drive which is incorporated in one of the vertically extending lateral frame parts and cooperates with both sealing elements, the one on the ceiling side and the one on the floor side. It is only in this way that the drive for the sealing elements on the top side and on the bottom side can be reduced to just one drive unit. Independently from disposing the drive unit in the lateral frame parts or in the head beam and the lower beam, the former is at least located away from the centre of the wall element. Consequently, the disposition of the drive unit does not interfere with the transparency of the wall elements.

Preferably the profile frame is defined by a width which does not exceed a value of 200 mm, preferably a value of 150 mm and particularly preferred a value of 120 mm. It is guaranteed in this way that the lateral surface of the wall element is predominantly formed by the pane element. In particular the breast height from the floor to the upper edge of the profile frame in the area of the lower beam is limited to a value of 120 mm, wherein a smaller width of the profile frame contributes to a desired filigree appearance of the partitioning wall.

According to another advantageous embodiment, clip strips are provided by which the pane elements are accommodated in the profile frame. The clip strips are disposed on the outside at the profile frame such that both pane elements are held at the profile frame by the clip strips by elastic pressure. The clip strip, on the side of the lower beam, may be configured integrally with the lower beam such that the pane elements can be inserted, respectively placed at first into the lower clip strip. Subsequently, the clip strips are inserted in the lateral frame parts as well as in the head beam in order to affix the pane element in the profile frame. The clip strips disposed at the vertically extending lateral frame parts as well as at the head beam, have a U-shaped extruded profile. With a first U-leg, the U-shaped extruded profile achieves a positive engagement in the lateral frame part and, with a second U-leg, generates a pressure urging the pane elements against the profile frame. Compared to the first U-leg, this second U-leg is configured longer and extends over portions of the pane element. In order to allow for elastically accommodating the pane elements in the profile frame, insertable sealings are provided which cooperate with the clip strips. Over the entire circumference of the profile frame, the insertable sealings are pressed in between the second leg of the clip strip and the pane element and they are able to latch with the clip strips. The insertable sealings may consist of a rubber-like material for both providing a sealing against contamination, which might get between the pane elements, and allowing for resilience between the profile frame and the pane element, for example to compensate for thermal expansion.

Altogether the wall element has a thickness of approximately 100 mm. The stacking height of the wall elements in a parking position is thereby reduced. Furthermore, a smaller thickness of the wall element contributes to a filigree appearance, wherein at the same time it is desired to accommodate the pane elements at a large distance with regard to each other in the profile frame. Consequently, the clip strips only have a small height above the pane element, which is less than the thickness of the pane element, in order to avoid an unnecessary increase in the overall thickness of the wall elements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Hereinafter, further measures enhancing the invention will be illustrated in detail in conjunction with the description of one preferred embodiment of the invention based on the Figures, in which:

FIG. 1: is a perspective view of an inventive wall element for forming a mobile partitioning wall;

FIG. 2: is a cross-sectional view in the cross-sectional plane which is identified by II-II in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3: is a detailed view of how the clip strip is arranged at the profile frame with an associated insertable sealing according to the detail III which is shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 a: is a cross-sectional view of the profile frame in the area of a vertically extending lateral frame part which is configured as a groove;

FIG. 4 b: is a cross-sectional view through a vertically extending lateral frame part, which is configured as a tongue, and

FIG. 5: is a detailed view of a clip strip arranged with an insertable sealing in the area of a lateral frame part according to the detail IV of FIG. 4 a.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a wall element 1. Several such wall elements 1 may be disposed bordering each other in a room, such as to form a partitioning wall. For displacing the wall elements 1, they have a guiding assembly 2 via which the wall elements 1 are displaceable in a rail system, which is incorporated for example in the ceiling of a room. The guiding assembly 2 has a plurality of rollers which either only roll in the rail system for guiding the wall element 1 or they may be driven in order to form an automatically displaceable partitioning wall. Essentially the wall element 1 has two transparent pane elements 3 which are disposed parallel at a distance to each other and are accommodated in a profile frame 4. The profile frame 4 has a rectangular shape and surrounds the pane elements 3. As shown in the perspective view of the wall element 1, the profile frame 4 just forms a small portion of the lateral surface of the wall element 1 such that the width B of the profile frame 4 amounts to only a small portion of the lateral overall dimensions of the wall element 1. The profile frame 4 has two vertically extending lateral frame parts 4 a and 4 b, which are connected via a head beam 4 c at the upper side, and a lower beam 4 d at the lower side of the wall element 1. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view in the cross-sectional plane II-II through the lower beam 4 d.

FIG. 2 shows the cross-sectional view through the wall element 1 in the area of the lower beam 4 d according to the section II-II of FIG. 1. The pane elements 3 are visible in this cross-section, wherein a narrow pane element 3 is inserted on the left hand side and a thicker pane element 3 on the right hand side, which panes are disposed at a distance with regard to each other. The distance of the pane elements 3 with regard to each other is determined by the width of the profile frame 4. In this case, the pane elements 3 are accommodated at the widest possible distance with regard to each other within a profile frame 4, which distance is even more increased by a glazing tape 10 in order to compensate for the smaller thickness of the pane element 3 on the left hand side.

A sound insulating device 5 is incorporated into the lower beam 4 d of the profile frame 4 and has at least one sealing element 8, which is displaceable against a floor 11 by a drive unit 9. The sealing element 8 consists of at least one rubber lip which, in addition to other sealing elements 12, extends across the entire width of the wall element 1. The sealing elements 8 and 12 are accommodated in a reception frame 13 which is vertically movable against the floor by the drive unit 9.

The lower beam 4 d has exterior clip strips 6 which are integrally configured with the lower beam 4 d. The clip strips 6 have a U-shaped cross-section, such that the pane elements 3 can be initially inserted into the clip strips 6. As the clip strips 6 are disposed at the underside, the pane elements 3 are held therein by their gravity and an insertable sealing 7 can be subsequently inserted between the clip strip 6 and the pane elements 3 in order to finally accommodate the pane element 3 in the profile frame 4. A detailed view of an insertable sealing 7 disposed in the clip strip 6 is illustrated in more detail according to the detail III in FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 shows a detailed view of the detail III of FIG. 2. The clip strip 6 is a structural component of the lower beam 4 d and has a leg which extends on the exterior side across the pane element 3. At the end side, the clip strip 6 has a latching geometry 14 by which the insertable sealing 7 can be held in place. The sealing has a depression 15 into which the nose-like latching geometry 14 of the clip strip 6 can engage. Consequently, there is the possibility of pressing the insertable sealing 7 in between the clip strip 6 and the pane element 3, wherein the insertable sealing 7 is shown in the non-deformed condition, and the insertable sealing 7 is deformed by pressing it against the surface of the pane element 3.

FIGS. 4 a and 4 b show a cross-sectional view of the profile frame 4 in the area of the lateral frame parts 4 a and 4 b. A cross-section of a lateral frame part 4 a disposed on the left hand side is shown in FIG. 4 a and a cross-sectional view of the lateral frame part 4 b of the profile frame 4 is shown in FIG. 4 b. The lateral frame part 4 a is configured as a groove element, whereas the lateral frame part 4 b forms a tongue element which is intended to engage in the groove element 4 a of a neighbouring wall element. Further sealing elements 16 and 17 are disposed in the tongue-and-groove geometry in order to likewise configure the proper joint between the wall elements to be sound-proof.

Furthermore, the view shows two pane elements 3, which are accommodated at a distance with regard to each other in the lateral frame part 4 a and 4 b. The reception is realized via clip strips 6 which cooperate with an insertable sealing 7 in the same way as already described for the reception of the pane element 3 in the area of the lower beam according to FIG. 3. The clip strips 6 in the area of the lateral frame parts 4 a and 4 b are however configured as individual parts and have a U-shaped form with a short and a long U-leg. The short U-leg engages positively in the geometry of the lateral frame part 4 a and 4 b such that the long U-leg extends along a portion across the pane element 3. An insertable sealing 7, which is configured in the same way as the insertable sealing 7 in the area of the lower beam, is again inserted at the end side of the long U-leg of the clip strip 6.

FIG. 5 shows a detailed view of the clip strip 6 disposed at the lateral frame part 4 a according to the detail IV of FIG. 4 a. The pane element 3 shown in this case is configured to be thinner such that a glazing tape 10 is inserted into the reception geometry of the lateral frame part 4 a in order to compensate for the width of the reception opening for accommodating the pane element 3.

The connection between the insertable sealing 7 and the clip strip 6 is accomplished in the same way via a latching geometry 14, which is configured at the clip strip 6 and positively engages in a depression 15 provided in the insertable sealing 7. The insertable sealing 7 has an elastic material like a rubber band and the like such that it can deform and, on account of the deformation, generates a pressure of the pane element 3 against the glazing tape 10, respectively against the profile frame 4.

The invention in its configuration is not limited to the above presented preferred embodiment. On the contrary, a number of variants are conceivable, which make use of the presented solution, likewise with basically different types of executions. In particular, the pane elements 3 may be made from polarized glass in order to temporarily rescind the transparency of the pane elements by means of appropriate electric circuitry. Furthermore, special gas may be introduced between the two pane elements 3, which will allow for improved insulation features for sound insulation. The material of the profile frame 4 may be an aluminium extruded profile, which may have a split execution and comprise a plastic bridge in order to provide thermal insulation between the two exterior surfaces of the wall element 1.

Thus, while there have shown and described and pointed out fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the devices illustrated, and in their operation, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, it is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements and/or method steps which perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the same results are within the scope of the invention. Moreover, it should be recognized that structures and/or elements and/or method steps shown and/or described in connection with any disclosed form or embodiment of the invention may be incorporated in any other disclosed or described or suggested form or embodiment as a general matter of design choice. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto. 

1-15. (canceled)
 16. A partitioning wall with a plurality of wall elements that are configured to be movably accommodated via a guiding assembly, each wall element comprising: two transparent pane elements that are disposed parallel to and spaced apart from each other; a sound insulation device configured to sound-proof the wall element at least at a floor and at a ceiling; and a profile frame for accommodating the pane elements and furthermore for accommodating the sound insulation device therein.
 17. The partitioning wall according to claim 16, wherein a lateral surface of the wall element is predominantly formed by the pane elements, and the profile frame configured to surround and enclose the pane elements only at respective borders of the panes.
 18. The partitioning wall according to claim 17, wherein the pane elements are glass pane, and at least one of the two glass panes is one of a single-glazed pane and a double-glazed pane.
 19. The partitioning wall according to claim 18, wherein the two glass panes are configured as single-glazed panes accommodated in the profile frame, a combined glass pane thicknesses of one of approximately 6 mm each, and approximately 10 mm and approximately 8 mm respectively.
 20. The partitioning wall according to claim 16, wherein the two glass panes are accommodated in the profile frame at a distance with respect to each other of at least about 50 mm.
 21. The partitioning wall according to claim 16, wherein the profile frame is a rectangular frame that comprises: two vertically extending lateral frame parts; a horizontally extending head beam on the ceiling-side; and a horizontally extending lower beam on the floor side.
 22. The partitioning wall according to claim 21, wherein the sound insulation system comprises respective sealing elements arranged in at least one of the head beam and the lower beam that are configured to be driven out of the at least one of the head beam against the ceiling and the lower beam against the floor.
 23. The partitioning wall according to claim 22, wherein, at least one of the plural wall elements further comprises: at least one of: a first drive unit arranged in the head beam and a second drive unit in the lower beam, wherein the sealing element arranged in the one of the head beam and the lower beam are displaceable against the ceiling and against the floor by the respective drive unit.
 24. The partitioning wall according to claim 17, wherein the profile frame has a width less than about 200 mm measured from the enclosed pane element to a border of the wall element, to substantially form the lateral surface of the wall element by the pane element.
 25. The partitioning wall according to claim 21, wherein at least one clip strip is arranged to accommodate a respective one of the pane elements in the profile frame.
 26. The partitioning wall according to claim 25, wherein each clip strip is disposed at an exterior side at the profile frame and in that both pane elements are held against the profile frame by the respective clip strip by elastic pressure.
 27. The partitioning wall according to claim 25, wherein a lateral height dimension of the clip strip across the pane element that contributes to the thickness of the wall element is less than a thickness of a pane element.
 28. The partitioning wall according to claim 25, wherein a respective at least one of the clip strips disposed at one of the head beam and the lower beam and is configured as a part of the profile frame, wherein a respective insertable sealing is provided that is configured to be insertable between the clip strip and the pane element to generate a pre-pressure of the pane element at the profile frame.
 29. The partitioning wall according to claim 25, wherein the clip strips that are disposed at the vertically extending lateral frame parts and at the head beam have a U-shaped extruded profile, wherein a first U-leg engages positively in the lateral frame part, respectively in the head beam and a second U-leg generates a pressure of the pane element at the profile frame.
 30. The partitioning wall according to claim 16, wherein the wall element has a thickness dimension less than about 120 mm. 